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Warning!
At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in Harry Potter: Magic Awakened. As such, spoilers will be present within the article. |
- "Just because something is dark and scary doesn't mean it's evil."
- — Astrid Cole[src]
Astrid Cole was a half-blood witch who was born in the late 20th century. She was a Herbologist and worked at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries as a plant-based Healer in the 2010s.[2]
Biography
Early life
Astrid was born at some point between 1 September 1979 and 31 August 1986[1] to a wizarding family. According to her, her father was a Muggle criminal investigator who made boards for sorting through clues and suspects.[4] Astrid's mother was a witch who worked in the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. She had a garden with every magical plant imaginable. Astrid helped her tend to the garden when she returned from work.[5]
Her mother died while trying to manage a "mess" at work. Her father ended up being so upset with his wife's death that he destroyed almost everything magical the Coles owned. Astrid saved some of their magical plants by hiding them in her bedroom closet before her dad destroyed their garden. Only a few of them survived in her bedroom and they were the only magical things she had in her life until she started Hogwarts.[5]
Hogwarts years
At age eleven, she began attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where she was Sorted into Ravenclaw.[2]
During her years at Hogwarts, she developed her fondness with the Matron Madam Pomfrey, helping collect herbs and administer potions to sick students.[4] She never visited the Three Broomsticks Inn, as she had never heard of the place by the time she was an adult.[5] In her fifth year, Astrid most likely passed her Ordinary Wizarding Level in the subject of Herbology, Charms, Transfiguration, Defence Against the Dark Arts, and Potions at either "Exceeds Expectations" or "Outstanding".[6]
On 2 May 1998, Astrid also served in and survived the Battle of Hogwarts.[4]
Healer career
After graduation, she became a Herbology expert and was eventually hired at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries as a plant-based Healer.[2] She also invented a bunch of concoction potions around this time.[7]
Mysterious Malady
In the 2010–2011 school year, Astrid was sent to Hogwarts by the British Ministry of Magic to help the professors find an antidote for the Mysterious Malady. Upon her arrival on a stormy night, she was greeted by Headmistress Minerva McGonagall in the Great Hall. Later in the next day, she visited one of the Hogwarts greenhouses where she met another Herbologist Yubert Thorne.[4]
At some point during the school year, Neville Longbottom, the Professor of Herbology, was affected by the Mysterious Malady which caused him to fall asleep unawakened. While Professor Longbottom was in the Hospital Wing, Astrid visited him every day but never said anything. This behaviour was suspected by Slytherin student Cassandra Vole, who discussed this with another student. Soon, they realised Astrid was eavesdropping on them.[4]
Afterwards, she went into her lab and pulled up a Mandrake from its pot, causing it to cry out a scream that rendered the student with whom Cassandra was discussing earlier unconscious. Upon waking up, the student talked to Astrid, who revealed her suspicion of Yubert to them and asked them to help her "playing detective". As a result, the student agreed.[4]
Subsequently, the student somehow ended up in the Headmistress's office, forgetting all the events that had happened since Astrid's arrival. After McGonagall gave them a Memory Potion, they recounted all the memories which were finally recollected: Astrid's arrival and greenhouse visit, their discussion with Cassandra, and their conversation with Astrid.[4]
Looking guilty
One night, while the student was wandering in a corridor, they saw Astrid standing next to Cassandra who was lying on the floor, affected by the Mysterious Malady. Realising she was seen, Astrid picked up a Bloom For You flower (which Cassandra had volunteered to return to the Bewildering Blooms shop) from Cassandra's hand and attacked the student with a forgetting spell, before running away. The entire scene was witnessed by Gossamer, a portrait, who then informed McGonagall.[8]
At some point later, Astrid went to the Hospital Wing and met a student (who was visiting Cassandra, along with Fischer and Colby Frey), whom she demanded to talk to, claiming it was "no more game".[8] Astrid then brought the student into her lab and told them everything.[5]
She "used to" suspect that either Professor Longbottom or Cassandra was involved with the Mysterious Malady, as the British Ministry of Magic suspected it had something to do with plants, and that was the reason there were red crosses on their photos.[5]
Astrid also revealed another misunderstood fact about what had happened in the corridor nights before: she wasn't hurting Cassandra but actually was trying to help her, as she realised that the Bloom For You flower in Cassandra's hand was the source of the Mysterious Malady, and she ran away because she didn't want the student to get affected by it as well.[5]
The true villain captured
That night, Astrid and the student crept into Bewildering Blooms, where they found evidence to prove the identity of the true villain behind the Mysterious Malady. That was when they heard a voice from the back of Hogsmeade. The two immediately went to the scene, where they encountered the villain standing over McGonagall (who was lying unconscious in the street): Yubert Thorne.[5]
Eventually, after Astrid was knocked out and the student threw a Mandrake at Thorne just in time, they managed to capture Thorne. Soon, Aurors arrived at the scene and arrested Thorne, after which he was imprisoned in Azkaban.[5]
Astrid completed the antidote to the Mysterious Malady and sent it to be administered to the victims of the malady at Hogwarts and St Mungo's.[5]
Soon, the wizarding world learned of Astrid's heroic efforts and gave her attention, to which she seemed to show no interest. To escape the celebratory banquet, Astrid packed her bags from her dungeon lab, and left Hogwarts for good.[9]
Physical description
Astrid Cole was an attractive witch who had long sleek black hair with green streaks covering half her face. She always wore a black dress and some green accessories.[2][4]
Personality and traits
Astrid was described as introverted, intelligent and intense. She liked moonlight, solitude, and all plants, both magical and non-magical. She disliked bullies, people who were quick to judge, slow-healing wounds and people who littered.[2]
Magical abilities and skills
- Herbology: Astrid was a Herbology expert who specialised in using plants for healing.[2] As a Healer at St Mungo's, she would have needed a N.E.W.T. in this subject at either "Exceeds Expectations" or "Outstanding".[6]
- Healing magic: Being a Healer, Astrid would have been accomplished with healing magic.[2]
- Charms: As a Healer at St Mungo's, she would have needed a N.E.W.T. in this subject at either "Exceeds Expectations" or "Outstanding".[6]
- Transfiguration: As a Healer at St Mungo's, she would have needed a N.E.W.T. in this subject at either "Exceeds Expectations" or "Outstanding".[6]
- Defence Against the Dark Arts: As a Healer at St Mungo's, she would have needed a N.E.W.T. in this subject at either "Exceeds Expectations" or "Outstanding".[6]
- Potions: As a Healer at St Mungo's, she would have needed a N.E.W.T. in this subject at either "Exceeds Expectations" or "Outstanding".[6] She also invented a number of different potions.
Possessions
- Wand: Astrid owned an 11½ willow wood wand with unicorn hair core in the 2010s.[2]
- Herbology lab: She was more comfortable working alone in her lab in Hogwarts's dungeons, using dangerous plants to create remedies and antidotes.[2]
- Thinking board: Astrid had an investigation board, which she called a thinking board as it helped her to think.[4]
Relationships
Hogwarts staffs
Poppy Pomfrey
As a student, she grew close to Matron Madam Pomfrey, assisting in gathering herbs and giving potions to unwell students.[4]
Neville Longbottom
Professor Longbottom and Astrid were good friends. They had a lot in common, with both being interested in the subject of Herbology, sharing a passion for plants, and knowing what it meant to be underestimated. When he was affected by the Mysterious Malady, Astrid tried her best to find out its cause and cure.[4] Furthermore, they attended Hogwarts around the same time. It was unknown whether they knew each other since their school years.
Students
Cassandra Vole
Cassandra and Astrid's relationship was ambiguous, though clearly showed signs of discord. Cassandra distrusted Astrid, finding her behaviour suspicious.[4]
Unidentified Muggle-born Hogwarts student
Upon arriving at Hogwarts, Astrid admired the student's Puffapod. Later that year, after sharing her suspicions about Yubert Thorne and demanding the student's help in "playing detective", their relationship strengthened well.[4]
Others
Yubert Thorne
Despite both being interested in Herbology, Astrid didn't get along with Yubert. She suspected that he was involved with the Mysterious Malady and hence spied on him.[4]
Ministry colleagues
Astrid described her colleagues at the Ministry of Magic as "always eager to blame what they don't understand."[4]
Etymology
Astrid is a Scandinavian name, a contemporary version of Ástríðr, originating from Old Norse Ássfriðr. It combines áss (a god) and fríðr (beautiful, fair).[10]
Behind the scenes
- Astrid Cole first appears in "The Mysterious Malady", the Harry Potter: Magic Awakened season which took place from 6 February to 19 March 2024.[7]
Interview with the writers
- "I have a soft spot for Astrid Cole. A brilliant Herbologist, she became a Healer specializing in plant-based remedies for…reasons. I don't want to give too much away, but I find it interesting that she's taken on the look of her favourite plants (dark and unusual), which tends to alienate other witches and wizards. But trust me, those who get to know Astrid (I'm looking at you, players) may be surprised at what they find!"
- — Lindy Gross, one of the Harry Potter: Magic Awakened plot writers[src]
- "Astrid was certainly fun, but I want to give a shout out to Professor McGonagall. She spends a lot of time with the Player this season trying to…well, trying to get to the truth. It was a blast to watch (write) her in her element, both as Headmistress and someone who truly cares about her students. She's also rather prickly, which is great fun to write!"
- — Rob DeBorde, the lead writer of Harry Potter: Magic Awakened writers[src]
Appearances
- Harry Potter: Magic Awakened (First appearance)
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Astrid was among the students who fought in the Battle of Hogwarts (1997–1998 school year).
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 Astrid's profile at Harry Potter: Magic Awakened: The Mysterious Malady Season: Interview with the Writers (see this image)
- ↑ "World Exclusive Interview with J K Rowling," South West News Service, 8 July 2000 - "Hogwarts just serves Britain and Ireland."
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, Season 5: The Mysterious Malady, Chapter II: The Odd Herbologist Out
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, Season 5: The Mysterious Malady, Chapter IV: Plants vs Herbologist
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 29 (Careers Advice)
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, Season 5: The Mysterious Malady
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, Season 5: The Mysterious Malady, Chapter III: Bloom For Whom?
- ↑ Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, Season 5: The Mysterious Malady, Chapter IV: Plants vs Herbologist (Defeat Thorne's accomplices)
- ↑
Astrid on Wikipedia
